JONGLEI – After years of silence following a traumatic assault, Rosaria (not her real name) is now using her experience to advocate for survivors of gender-based violence across Jonglei State.
“I am heartbroken. I was violated by those supposed to protect me,” she says, her eyes filled with tears.
Her nightmare began during the 2013 conflict, when her family and neighbours fled Bor town for safety. As they moved through the bush in small groups to avoid detection, Rosaria encountered an armed soldier who exploited her vulnerability.
“He pointed a gun at me, threatening to kill me if I moved,” she recalls.
The assault left her traumatized and silent for nearly a decade.
With local infrastructure disrupted, Rosaria had no access to healthcare and feared the stigma, judgment, and possible backlash from her husband if she disclosed what had happened.
“For nine years, I felt trapped in my own silence,” she says.
Her experience reflects a broader crisis in Jonglei, where gender-based violence continues amid conflict and survivors face limited access to justice, healthcare and other essential support.
Rosaria’s turning point came in 2022, when a local women’s rights advocate encouraged her to break her silence.
Determined to turn her pain into purpose, she became a Gender-Based Violence Officer with a local non-governmental organization. Today, she advocates for justice and supports other survivors through counseling and referrals to essential services.
Recognizing that effective responses require collaboration, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) organized a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Bor, bringing together 59 participants, including 25 women, to strengthen networks for protecting vulnerable populations.
“We must provide a survivor-centered response to gender-based and sexual violence. Survivors deserve a response that is accessible, coordinated, accountable and centered on their dignity, rights, choices and needs,” said Geetha Pious, Head of the UNMISS Bor Field Office.
Elijah Mayen, the State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, agreed.
“Survivors urgently need holistic support. These discussions are crucial now more than ever.”
The dialogue produced concrete measures, including the creation of a “Friendly Space for Survivors” and plans to provide urgent medical and economic assistance.
Participants also established a 10-member, gender-balanced “Survivor Support Network” to advance solutions grounded in the realities and priorities of survivors like Rosaria.
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By Angellah Mandoreba
